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2024

Yang, Z.X., Jiang, B.Y., Xu, J.X., McNamara, M.E., 2024. Cellular structure of dinosaur scales reveals retention of reptile-type skin during the evolutionary transition to feathers. Nature Communications, 15, 4063. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48400-3. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Yang_et_al_2024_Nat_Comm_Cellular_structure_dino_scales.pdf

^{What's it about? This paper presents the first fossil evidence that the feathered dinosaur Psittacosaurus, and probably other early feathered animals, had scaly reptile-type skin in naked regions and bird-like skin in feathered regions.}

Binner, H., Andrade, L., McNamara, M.E., 2024. Assessing synergies between soil research in the Republic of Ireland and European Union policies. Environmental Challenges, 15, 100881. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2024.100881. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Binner_et_al_2024_Environmental_Challenges_Assessing_synergies.pdf

^{What's it about? Quantitative analysis of recent research on Irish soils shows bias towards agricultural soils and poor alignment with EU soil policy.}

Falk, D., Wings, O., Unitt, R., Wade, J., McNamara, M.E., 2024. Fossilized anuran soft tissues reveal a new taphonomic model for the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte, Germany. Scientific Reports, 14, 7876. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55822-y. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Falk_et_al_2024_Sci_Rep_Fossil_frogs.pdf

^{What's it about? UCC palaeontologists have solved a hundred-year-old mystery of how some fossil frogs preserve their fleshy parts – it’s all down to their skin.}

Rossi, V., Bernardi, M., Fornasiero, M., Nestola, F., Unitt, R., Castelli, S., Kustatscher, E., 2024. Forged soft tissues revealed in the oldest fossil reptile from the early Permian of the Alps. Palaeontology, 67, e12690. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12690. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Rossi_et_al_2024_Palaeontology_Fossil_forgery.pdf

^{What's it about? Palaeontological analysis shows renowned fossil, thought to show soft tissue preservation, is in fact just paint.}

2023

Slater, T.S., Ito, S., Wakamatsu, K., Zhang, F., Sjövall, P., Jarenmark, M., Lindgren, J., McNamara, M.E., 2023. Taphonomic experiments reveal authentic molecular signals for fossil melanins and verify preservation of phaeomelanin in fossils. Nature Communications, 14, 5651. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40570-w. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Slater_et_al_2023_Nat_Comm_phaeomelanin.pdf

^{What's it about? This paper reports the first molecular evidence of ginger pigments in the fossil record, which were found in 10 million-year-old frogs.}

Slater, T.S., Edwards, N.P., Webb, S.M., Zhang, F., McNamara, M.E., 2023. Preservation of corneous β-proteins in Mesozoic feathers. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 7, 1706-1713. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02177-8.

^{What's it about? This paper finds evidence of proteins in 125 million-year-old feathers, which show that ancient feathers were much more like modern-day feathers than previously thought.}

Wang, S., McNamara, M.E., Wang, B., Hui, H., Jiang, B., 2023. The origins of colour patterns in fossil insects revealed by maturation experiments. Proceedings B, 290, 20231333. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.1333. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Wang_et_al_2023_Proc_B_The_origins_of_colour_patterns.pdf

^{What's it about? In this paper we use taphonomic experiments to explain the preservation of insect colour patterns as preferential preservation of melanin-rich pattern regions, and we reveal a previously unknown bias in the preservation of patterns in the fossil record.}

Yang, Z., Jiang, B., Benton, M.J., Xu, X., McNamara, M.E., Hone, D.W.E., 2023. Allometric wing growth links parental care to pterosaur giantism. Proceedings B, 290, 20231102. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.1102. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Yang_et_al_2023_pterosaur_parental_care.pdf

^{What's it about? This paper explores how giant pterosaurs grew to be so big. We found that giant pterosaurs such as Pteranodon evolved parental care that may have allowed faster/longer growth and ultimately, large adult sizes.}

2022

Binner, H., Sullivan, T., Jansen, M.A.K., McNamara, M.E., 2022. Metals in urban soils of Europe: A systematic review. Science of the Total Environment, 854, 158734. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158734. 

^{What's it about? This paper summarises findings from 174 publications to determine the current status of urban soil metal research across 43 European countries: we found that almost half of urban soil metal concentrations can be linked to geogenic sources, but over half of urban sites across Europe are contaminated with metals, of which a quarter can be traced back to human activities.}

Falk, D., Wings, O., McNamara, M.E., 2022. The skeletal taphonomy of anurans from the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte, Germany: insights into the controls on fossil anuran preservation. Papers in Palaeontology, 8, e1453. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.1453. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Falk_et_al_2022_Papers_in_Palaeo_Geiseltal_anurans.pdf

^{What's it about? This paper is a comparative analysis of patterns in completeness and articulation in the Geiseltal specimens and in fossil anurans from other Cenozoic Lagerstätten reveals recurring taphonomic trends in anuran preservation, which are ultimately controlled by climate, lake physiography and anuran anatomy.}

McNamara, M., Binner, H., Hynes, E., Andrade, L., 2022. Evidence Synthesis Report 1: A Signpost for Soil Policy in Ireland. MUCKISOILS (Mapping Understanding and Current Knowledge of Irish Soils), EPA Research Programme 2021-2030. https://www.epa.ie/publications/research/evidence-synthesis-reports/evidence-synthesis-report-1--a-signpost-for-soil-policy-in-ireland.php. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2022_EPA_Evidence_Synthesis_Report_1.pdf

^{What's it about? In this report we summarise current knowledge on Irish soils and provide a series of recommendations for the content and approaches to Irish soil research going forwards.}

Rossi, V., Unitt, R., McNamara, M., Zorzin, R., Carnevale, G., 2022. Skin patterning and internal anatomy in a fossil moonfish from the Eocene Bolca Lagerstätte illuminate the ecology of ancient reef fish communities. Palaeontology, 65, e12600. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12600. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Rossi_et_al_2022_Palaeontology_moonfish.pdf

^{What's it about? We report melanin-based colour patterning in a fossil moonfish from the Eocene Monte Bolca locality from Italy. The specimen reveals that moonfish had different colour patterns to its living counterparts, suggesting a change in ecology from open marine to reef settings and associated changes in diet and in the genes that control colour patterning.}

Cincotta, A., Nicolaï, M., Nascimento Campos, H.B., McNamara, M., D’Alba, L., Shawkey, M.D., Kischlat, E.E., Yans, J., Carleer, R. Escuillié, F., Godefroit, P., 2022. Pterosaur melanosomes support signalling functions for early feathers. Nature, 604, 684-688. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04622-3. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Cincotta_et_al_2022_Nature_Pterosaur_melanosomes.pdf

^{What’s it about? We discovered that pterosaurs had the ability to manipulate the colour of their feathers, just like modern-day birds. This suggests that coloration – and visual signalling – was an important function of feathers even in their early evolution, in the common ancestor of pterosaurs and dinosaurs.}

Yang, Z., Benton, M.J., Hone, D.W.E., Xu, X., McNamara, M.E., Jiang, B., 2022. Allometric analysis sheds light on the systematics and ontogeny of anurognathid pterosaurs. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, e2028796. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2021.2028796.

^{What's it about? In this paper we describe a new anurognathid pterosaur, Cascocauda rong, and show that all anurognathids share a common growth trajectory in skull and limb dimensions, suggesting a constant lifestyle throughout ontogeny and their over 40 million years of evolution.}

2021

Zhang, Y., Shih, P., Wang, J., McNamara, M.E., Shih, C., Ren, D., Taiping, G., 2021. Jurassic scorpionflies (Mecoptera) with swollen first metatarsal segments suggesting sexual dimorphism. BMC Ecology and Evolution, 21, 47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-021-01771-3. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Zhang_et_al_2021_BMC_Ecol_Evo_Jurassic_scorpionflies_dimorphism.pdf

^{What’s it about? In this paper we report unusual swellings on the legs of beautifully preserved male scorpionflies from the Jurassic Yanliao (Daohuguo) biota. While we’re not fully certain of the purpose of these odd structures, comparison with extant insects suggests that they may have been used for mating displays and/or during copulation.}

Rossi, V., Webb, S.M., McNamara, M., 2021. Maturation experiments reveal bias in the chemistry of fossil melanosomes. Geology, 49, 784-788. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1130/G48696.1. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Rossi_et_al_2021_Geology_Fossil_melanosomes.pdf

^{What’s it about? In this paper we use maturation experiments to identify chemical signatures for diagenetically altered melanosomes in fossils.}

McNamara, M.E., Rossi, V., Slater, T.S., Rogers, C.S., Ducrest, A.-L., Dubey, S., Roulin, A., 2021. Decoding the Evolution of Melanin in Vertebrates. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 36, 430-443. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2020.12.012. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2021_TREE_Evolution_melanin_vertebrates.pdf

^{What’s it about? In this paper we synthesise data on the distribution of melanin in different tissues and animals across the vertebrate tree to produce the first model on the evolution of melanin (and its functions) based on both fossil and modern data.}

2020

Rogers, C.S., Webb, S.M., McNamara, M.E., 2021. Synchrotron x‐ray fluorescence analysis reveals diagenetic alteration of fossil melanosome trace metal chemistry. Palaeontology, 64, 63-73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12506. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Rogers_et_al_2020_Palaeontology_Melanosome_taphonomy.pdf

^{What’s it about? In this paper we use maturation experiments to show how thermal maturation, and external sources of metal ions, can change the trace element chemistry of eye melanosomes, explaining some of the chemical signatures we see in fossils.}

Yang, Z., Jiang, B., McNamara, M.E., Kearns, S.L., Pittman, M., Kaye, T.G., Orr, P.J., Xu, X., Benton, M.J. 2020. Reply to: ‘No protofeathers on pterosaurs’. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 4, 1592-1593. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01309-8. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Yang_et_al_2020_Nat_Ecol_Evol_Reply_No_protofeathers.pdf

^{What’s it about? In this paper we refute claims that the integumentary structures in pterosaurs are not feathers based on the anatomical distribution and taphonomy of the fossil structures and on the distribution of feather types in extant birds.}

Rossi, V., Webb, S.M., McNamara, M.E., 2020. Hierarchical biota-level and taxonomic controls on the chemistry of fossil melanosomes revealed using synchrotron X-ray fluorescence. Scientific Reports, 10, 8970. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-65868-3. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Rossi_et_al_2020_Sci_Rep_Hierarchical_controls.pdf

^{What’s it about? We report the discovery of internal melanosomes in fossil vertebrates older than the dinosaurs. The chemistry of the fossil melanosomes is linked to that of their host sediment, confirming that melanosome chemistry can be altered by geological processes.}

McDonald, L.T., Narayanan, S., Sandy, A., Saranathan, V., McNamara, M.E., 2020. Brilliant angle-independent structural colours preserved in weevil scales from the Swiss Pleistocene. Biology Letters, 16, 20200063. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2020.0063. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McDonald_et_al_2020_Biol_Letters_Interface.pdf

^{What’s it about? In this paper we report the discovery of brilliant green colours preserved in the scales of a fossil weevil from Switzerland. The colours are produced by fossilized diamond-type photonic structures and were used for camouflage in leafy undergrowth.}

Slater, T., Ashbrook, K., Kriwet, J., 2020. Evolutionary relationships among bullhead sharks (Chondrichthyes, Heterodontiformes). Papers in Palaeontology, 6, 425-437. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.1299. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Slater_et_al_2020_bullhead sharks.pdf

^{What’s it about? This paper investigates the relationships and diversity of bullhead sharks through deep time and stresses the importance of using non-dental characters for taxonomic analyses of fossil sharks.}

Tian, Q., Wang, S., Yang, Z., McNamara, M.E., Benton, M.J., Jiang, B., 2020. Experimental investigation of insect deposition in lentic environments and implications for formation of insect Konservat-Lagerstätten. Palaeontology, 63, 565-578. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12472. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Tian_et_al_2020_Palaeontology_KL.pdf

^{What’s it about? We did experiments to help us understand how insects fossilize. In particular we studied how long fossil insects float at the water surface, and how easily ashfalls can submerge insects and cause them to sink.}

2019

Rogers, C.S., Astrop, T.I.A., McNamara, M.E., Webb, S., Ito, S., Wakamatsu, K., 2019. Synchrotron-X-ray absorption spectroscopy of melanosomes in vertebrates and cephalopods: implications for the affinity of Tullimonstrum. Proceedings B, 286, 20191649. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.1649. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Rogers_et_al_2019_Proc_B_Tullimonstrum.pdf

^{What’s it about? We report that melanosomes in the eyes of invertebrates can be arranged by shape and size calling into question the idea that this feature is unique to vertebrates. We also used eye melanosome chemistry to work out which group of animals the bizarre fossil Tully monster belongs to.}

Slater, T.S., McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Foley, T.B., Ito, S., Wakamatsu, K., 2019. Taphonomic experiments resolve controls on the preservation of melanosomes and keratinous tissues in feathers. Palaeontology, 63, 103-115. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12445. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Slater_et_al_2019_Palaeontology_Taphonomy_keratin.pdf

^{What’s it about? We performed experiments on modern feathers to understand how they degrade. Our results reveal controls on the preservation of feather pigments in the fossil record and indicate that the feather protein keratin is likely to survive various fossilization processes.}

Rossi, V., McNamara, M.E., Webb, S., Ito, S., Wakamatsu, K., 2019. Tissue-specific geometry and chemistry of modern and fossilized melanosomes reveal internal anatomy of extinct vertebrates. PNAS, 116, 17880-17889. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1820285116. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Rossi_et_al_2019_PNAS_Internal_melanosomes.pdf

^{What’s it about? We report the discovery of internal melanosomes in modern amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, and in fossils. These internal melanosomes differ in shape and chemistry in different organs, shedding light on the internal anatomy of ancient animals.}

Benton, M.J., Dhouailly, D., Jiang, B., McNamara, M., 2019. The early origin of feathers. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 34, 856-869. DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.04.018. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Benton_et_al_2019_TREE_Origins_of_feathers_review.pdf

^{What’s it about? We reviewed current knowledge on the evolutionary origins of feathers over 200 million years ago in the Triassic Period, bringing together information from feathered dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and genetics.}

Yang, Z.X., Jiang, B.Y., McNamara, M.E., Kearns, S.L., Pittman, M., Kaye, T.G., Orr, P.J., Xu, X., Benton, M.J., 2019. Pterosaur integumentary structures with complex feather-like branching. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 3, 24-30. DOI: 10.1038/s41559-018-0728-7. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Yang_et_al_2019_NEE_Pterosaur_feathers.pdf

^{What’s it about? We reported the discovery of branched feathers in pterosaurs – flying reptiles that are the sister group (close cousins) to the dinosaurs. This pushes back feather origins over 70 million years to the Early Triassic.}

Yang, Z., Wang, S., Tian, Q., Wang, B., Hethke, M., McNamara, M.E., Benton, M.J., Xu, X., Jiang, B., 2019. Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and biostratinomic analysis of the Jurassic Yanliao Lagerstätte in northeastern China. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 514, 739-753. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2018.09.030. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Yang_et_al_2019_P3_Palaeoenvironmental_reconstruction_Yanliao.pdf

^{What’s it about? We studied the sedimentary rocks that preserve fossils from the Jurassic fossil locality of Yanliao in NE China.}

2018

Odin, G.P., McNamara, M.E., Arwin, H., Järrendahl, K., 2018. Experimental degradation of helicoidal photonic nanostructures in scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): implications for the identification of circularly polarizing cuticle in the fossil record. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 15, 20180560. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2018.0560. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Odin_et_al_2018_J_Roy_Soc_Interface_CPL.pdf

^{What’s it about? We did experiments to help us understand whether microscopic colour-producing structures in the shells of scarab beetles can fossilize readily.}

McNamara, M.E., Kaye, J.S., Benton, M.J., Orr, P.J., Rossi, V., Ito, S., Wakamatsu, K., 2018. Non-integumentary melanosomes bias reconstructions of the colours of fossil vertebrate skin. Nature Communications, 9, 2878. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05148-x. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2018_Nature_Comms_Nonintegumentary_melanosomes.pdf

^{What’s it about? We reported the discovery of melanosomes – tiny rounded structures rich in melanin – in the internal organs of modern and fossil frogs.}

McNamara, M.E., Zhang, F., Kearns, S.L., Orr, P.J., Toulouse, A., Foley, T., Hone, D.W.E., Rogers, C.S., Benton, M.J., Johnson, D., Xu, X., Zhou, Z., 2018. Fossilized skin reveals coevolution with feathers and metabolism in feathered dinosaurs and early birds. Nature Communications, 9, 2072. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-04443-x. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2018_Nature_Comms_Jehol_skin.pdf

^{What’s it about? We reported the discovery of fossil snake skin with all three types of pigment cell preserved, allowing us to reconstruct the snake’s original colour.}

Zhang, Q., Mey, W., Ansorge, J., Starkey, T.A., McDonald, L.T., McNamara, M.E., Jarzembowski, E.A., Wichard, W., Kelly, R., Ren, X., Chen, J., Zhang, H., Wang, B., 2018. Fossil scales illuminate the early evolution of lepidopterans and structural colors. Science Advances, 4, e1700988. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700988. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Zhang_et_al_2018_Sci_Adv_Fossil_lepidopteran_scales.pdf

^{What’s it about? We reported the discovery of structurally coloured scales in fossil moths from the Jurassic Period.}

Purnell, M.A., Donoghue, P.J.C., Gabbott, S.E., McNamara, M., Murdock, D.J.E., Sansom, R.S., 2018. Experimental analysis of soft-tissue fossilization – opening the black box. Palaeontology, 61, 317-323. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12360. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Purnell_et_al_2018_Palaeontology_Opening_the_black_box.pdf

^{What’s it about? We explained the best ways of doing experiments to understand fossilization.}

2017

Muscente, A.D., Schiffbauer, J.D., Broce, J., Laflamme, M., O’Donnell, K., Boag, T.H., Meyer, M., Hawkins, A.D., Huntley, J.W., McNamara, M., MacKenzie, L.A., Stanley Jr., G.D., Hinman, N.W., Hofmann, M.H., Xiao, S., 2017. Exceptionally preserved fossil assemblages through geologic time and space. Gondwana Research, 48, 164-188. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2017.04.020. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Muscente_et_al_2017_Gondwana_Research_Fossil_assemblages.pdf

2016

Mears, E., Rossi, V., MacDonald, E., Coleman, G., Davies, T., Arias-Riesgo, C., Hildebrandt, C., Thiel, H., Duffin, C.J., Whiteside, D.I., Benton, M.J., 2016. The Rhaetian (Late Triassic) vertebrates of Hampstead Farm Quarry, Gloucestershire, UK. Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, 127, 478-505. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2016.05.003. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Mears_et_al_2016_Proc_GA_Rhaetian_vertebrates.pdf

Orr, P.J., Adler, L.B., Beardmore, S.R., Furrer, H., McNamara, M.E., Peñalver-Mollá, E., Redelstorff, R., 2016. “Stick ‘n’ peel”: Explaining unusual patterns of disarticulation and loss of completeness in fossil vertebrates. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 457, 380-388. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.05.024. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Orr_et_al_2016_P3_Stick_n_peel.pdf

McNamara, M.E., Van Dongen, B., Bull, I., Orr, P.J., 2016. Fossilisation of melanosomes via sulfurization. Palaeontology, 59, 337-350. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12238. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2016_Palaeontology_Sulfurization.pdf

McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S.L., Alcalá, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver, E., 2016. Reconstructing carotenoid-based and structural coloration in fossil skin. Current Biology, 26, 1075-1082. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.02.038. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2016_Current_Biology_Fossil_skin.pdf

2015

Rogers, C.S., Hone, D.W., McNamara, M.E., Zhao, Q., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S.K., Benton, M.J., 2015. The Chinese Pompeii? Death and destruction of dinosaurs in the Early Cretaceous of Lujiatun, NE China. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 427, 89-99. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2015.03.037. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: Rogers_et_al_2015_P3_Chinese_Pompeii.pdf

2014

2013

McNamara, M.E., 2013. The taphonomy of colour in fossil insects and feathers. Palaeontology, 56, 557-575. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12044. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_2013_Palaeontology_Colour_insects_feathers.pdf

McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J., Field, D., Wang, Z., 2013. Experimental maturation of feathers: implications for reconstructions of fossil feather colour. Biology Letters, 9, 20130184. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2013.0184. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2013_Biology_Letters_Feather_maturation.pdf

McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J., Gupta, N.S., Locatelli, E.R., Qiu, L., Yang, H., Wang, Z., Noh, H., Cao, H., 2013. The fossil record of insect color illuminated by maturation experiments. Geology, 41, 487-490. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1130/G33836.1. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2013_Geology_Insect_colour.pdf

2012

McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J., 2012. The controls on the preservation of structural color in fossil insects. Palaios, 27, 443-454. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2012.p12-027r. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2012_Palaios_Fossil_insects.pdf

McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J., Noh, H., Cao, H., 2012. The original colours of fossil beetles. Proceedings of The Royal Society B, 279, 1114–1121. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2011.1677. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2012_Proc_B_Fossil_beetles.pdf

McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S., Alcalá, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver, E., 2012. What controls the taphonomy of exceptionally preserved taxa – environment or biology? A case study using exceptionally preserved frogs from the Miocene Libros Konservat-Lagerstätte, Spain. Palaios, 27, 63-77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2010.p10-126r. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2012_Palaios_Miocene_frogs.pdf

2011

McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., Orr, P.J., Wedmann, S., Noh, H., Cao, H., 2011. Fossilized biophotonic nanostructures reveal the original colors of 47 million-year-old moths. PLoS Biology, 9, e1001200. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.1001200. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2011_PLoS_Biology_Moths.pdf

McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Manzocchi, T., Alcalá, L., Anadón, P. Peñalver, E., 2011. Biological controls upon the physical taphonomy of exceptionally preserved salamanders from the Miocene of Rubielos de Mora, northeast Spain. Lethaia, 45, 210-226. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1502-3931.2011.00274.x. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2011_Lethaia_Miocene_salamanders.pdf

2010

McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S., Alcalá, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver, E., 2010. Organic preservation of fossil musculature with ultracellular detail. Proceedings of The Royal Society B, 277, 423-427. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2009.1378. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2010_Proc_B_Fossil_musculature.pdf

2009

McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S., Alcalá, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver, E., 2009. Exceptionally preserved tadpoles from the Miocene of Libros, Spain: Ecomorphological reconstruction and the impact of ontogeny upon taphonomy. Lethaia, 43, 290-306. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1502-3931.2009.00192.x. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2009_Lethaia_Miocene_tadpoles.pdf

McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S., Alcalá, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver, E., 2009. Soft tissue preservation in Miocene frogs from Libros (Spain): Insights into the genesis of decay microenvironments. Palaios, 24, 104-117. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2110/palo.2008.p08-017r. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2009_Palaios_Libros_frogs_microenvironments.pdf

2006

McNamara, M.E., Orr, P.J., Kearns, S., Alcalá, L., Anadón, P., Peñalver, E., 2006. High fidelity preservation of bone marrow in c. 10 million year old amphibians. Geology, 34, 641-644. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1130/G22526.1. DOWNLOAD THE PDF HERE: McNamara_et_al_2006_Geology_Amphibian_bone_marrow.pdf